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Engineering and Data Science: Two Paths, One Goal—Making a Meaningful Impact
Mason Nicoletti
Education
B.S. in Data Science 2027, University of Virginia
Hometown
King George, Virginia
Choosing a degree and career path can be daunting, especially when multiple options offer the potential to make a profound impact. As a B.S. in Data Science (BSDS) student at the University of Virginia, Mason Nicoletti has experienced the excitement and versatility that come with the emerging, high-growth field of data science, but knows that engineering offers its own set of rewarding challenges.
In this blog post, he breaks down the opportunities offered by both fields, helping readers navigate their own paths. Whether you're inspired by designing tangible solutions or uncovering insights through data, Nicoletti's perspective offers valuable insights to guide your decision.
Your Path to Impact
In this world of innovation, both engineering and data science offer the opportunity to make a unique impact. While both paths will grow your technical skills and increase your employability in the job market, the decision to pursue one over the other may project you into a particular field or a specialized role after graduation. Either option provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the world, but your personal and career interests are the most important factor when choosing between the two.
Engineering: Designing Tangible Solutions
If you have a strong desire to create tangible solutions or design physical systems, engineering is an excellent path to take. This degree will teach you how to plan, design, and build solutions to real-world problems. Through UVA Engineering, you will have a chance to get your hands dirty working on projects. Whether you’re designing and printing 3D objects, working with computer hardware, experimenting in a lab, or working in a shop, you will be actively engaged in solution-focused work.
An engineering degree will increase your proficiency with complex math and physical sciences, as there is extensive coursework in these areas before advancing to more specialized engineering topics. As you progress along your degree, you will have more opportunities to apply your knowledge by designing and building systems that address societal needs. This is a practical experience emphasizing innovation and collaboration, which serve as standout features of the engineering education. Overall, obtaining an engineering degree is a rigorous process, but it will put you into a well-established profession.
Data Science: Harnessing Insights, Driving Innovation
If you are passionate about programming, analyzing datasets, or using technology to drive efficiency, data science will be a rewarding degree to pursue. Through this degree, you will learn how to gather valuable insights and drive decision-making with the potential to make a profound impact on society. In addition to computer science and statistics, data science incorporates domain expertise, allowing you to align important technical skills with your individual interests.
Much like engineering, data science takes a hands-on approach to learning. You will spend the majority of your time working on a computer, developing computer programs, and interacting with various software tools. Compared to engineering, data science is more human focused. In the BSDS curriculum, you’ll complete gen ed courses across a range of humanities. There is a significant emphasis on building soft skills and learning how to effectively communicate through active learning environments and the collaborative nature of the data science major.
A stand-out aspect of a data science degree is that this option will ensure your versatility in the job market. Data science can project you into a wide range of industries, from finance, to healthcare, to policy, and many more. One of the most appealing things about the BSDS at UVA is that this program encourages students to minor or double major in another discipline, allowing you to align hirable skills with your interest in a particular field. Additionally, BSDS students have the option to complete an external concentration that corresponds with another department at UVA, allowing you to apply data science skills to a specific area of interest.
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Choosing Your Path to Innovation and Impact
No matter what, these are both degrees that will offer job security and employable skills that will prepare you to succeed as a professional. Also, they both place teamwork and collaboration on a pedestal as one of the most valued takeaways from your education. Ultimately, the decision between engineering and data science comes down to considering the type of work that appeals to you most. Envision yourself after graduation searching for jobs in a particular industry or field. Will these jobs be more reliant on skills learned through data science, or will they be based on a particular type of specialized engineering assets?
Data science is emergent and dynamic, giving you the opportunity to make a profound impact across various industries through data-driven decision-making. Engineering is stable and highly practical, equipping you with specialized skills that will allow you to develop tangible solutions to problems. Both of these options will push you to be an excellent problem-solver and open up doors in your career. Your decision between engineering and data science depends on what you are passionate about and the type of impact you want to make on the world.
